- A massive fire in Overcome Heights destroyed 100 homes, leaving 300 people displaced.
- A firefighter and two children suffered burn injuries, and affected families are receiving support from relief organisations like Gift of the Givers.
- Community members are devastated, with students losing essential items and families struggling to rebuild their lives.
A firefighter and two children suffered burns in a raging fire that broke out in Overcome Heights informal settlement on Wednesday 20 November.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said the extent of the damage had yet to be determined.
“An emergency call was received at approximately 10:10 of informal structures alight in Overcome Heights,” he said. “Crews from several fire stations, with frontline fire engines and approximately 40 staff members responded to the scene.”
He further stated that the fire was contained to blocks C and RB in Overcome Heights.
“A firefighter was injured and transported to a medical facility. No fatalities have been reported,” said Carelse.
Meanwhile, according to the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson, Sonica Lategan, two minors had to be treated for burn wounds.
“Indications are that approximately 100 structures were destroyed and some 300 people affected,” she said. “Two minors sustained burn wounds and were taken to hospital.”
She added that Gift of the Givers was providing evening meals to the affected families. “The Disaster Risk Management Centre will activate Sassa as the primary provider of humanitarian relief as well as any City services required on site, such as Solid Waste Management and Informal Settlements Management,” said Lategan. “City services have been activated to attend to infrastructural damages, including replacing toilets on site.”
The repairs included fixing overhead electrical lines.
Karen Mentoor, a local community leader, said strong winds played a part in spreading the fire, which saw several structures destroyed.
“The first two houses were burning and then the wind was so strong that in a short time a lot of structures were affected,” she shared. “People tried to help one another with getting their possessions out, but the fire spread too fast.”
Sleeping outside
According to Mentoor, families are forced to sleep out in the open as a request to have the Civic Centre in the area opened was allegedly denied.
“They lost everything and now have to sleep out in the open. We asked our local councillor if the Civic Centre can be used for families to sleep in, but she said no.”
Matric pupils have lost their books and schoolchildren their uniforms, while families have lost all their possessions. “It is a disaster here, and people have no money to rebuild,” concluded Mentoor.
Responding to the claim that residents were denied access to the Seawinds Civics Centre, Ward 45 councillor Mandy Marr said permission is usually sought through the Disaster Risk Management Centre.
“In the past, the City would open the civic centres or halls for people to sleep in but then the space would end up being destroyed, toilets get vandalised and people end up squatting,” she explained. “I did put a request through to Disaster Risk Management who has to ask Parks and Recreation to take over the space but they decided not to.”
Marr further added that unhoused families were given shelter at the Vrygrond Community Centre.
